Filled container gassing apparatus



L. KRONQUEST 2,240,655

FILLED CQNTAINER GASSING APPARATUS Filed 001;. :51, 1958 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 6, 1941- A. L KRONQUEST 2,240,655

FILLED CONTAINER GASSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. a1, 1938 4 Sheets-Shet 2 y 1941- V A. L. KRONQUEST 4 2,240,655

FILLED CONTAINER GASSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1958 w '4 Sheets-Sheet s y A. L. KRONQUEST 2,240,655

FILLEDCONTAINER GASSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 1 ale F'atented May 6 1941 FILLEDCONTAINER. GAssIivGArrAnA'rUs Alfred L. Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 31, 1938, Serial No. 238,003"

A 14 Claims. (01. 226-68) The, invention relates generally to container closing apparatus and'primarly seeks to provide novel means for driving out air from the -head spaces above the product in the filled containers just prior to the closing of said containers and by directing an inert gas into said head spaces In the packaging of products, including beverages, of which beer forms a good example, it is desirable to remove air from the container head spaces prior to the applying and afiixingof closures on the containers. Attempts havebeen made to attain this end by various means, as by the drawingv of a vacuum or by force jetting. Such attempts, of which]? am at present. aware, have proven' unsuccessful because of inefficiency in the displacement of the air, and because they resulted in foaming of the beer whenemployed in the packaging of that product. 1

tion of thecover supporting, container head space gassing member. g 1 H i Figured is a detail plan view of the cover plate portion of the cover supporting, container head space gassing member.

Figure '7 is an edge view of the part shown in Figure 5., i i

Figure 8 is an edge viewof the part shown in Figure 6,.

An object of the invention is to provide novel means for partially confining filled containers beneath a wall portionand directing a fiowof inert gas into and across the head spaces of said containers to sweep out and displace air therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means forpresenting filled containers and associated covers or closures and including a wall portion performing a twofold function of partially confining the head spacesof the filledcontainers and of supporting thecovers or closures as lthey aremoved along in associated relation with the particular containers which they are to close. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel means of the nature stated in which a container head space'confining andcover or closure supporting wall portion is provided which is chambered and apertured to receive the inert gas and direct it into and across the'head spaces of the moving containers. 1 a 1 With the above and other objects in view. the

nature of the invention will be more fully under-- stood by following the detailed description. the appended claims, and the several views illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is a plan viewillustrating the invention, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary verticalcross section 1 taken on the line 2-2 on Figure l.

Figure9 is a detail cross section taken on the line 9-9 in Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical cross on, theline Ill-l ll on Figure 1.

' In the drawings, I have'illustrated fragments .of a container closing machine including a turret 5 equipped with the usual equidistantly spaced container supporting pads 5 upon which the filled containers 1 are supported and moved in said machine. It is to be understood that the invention can be applied to any form of closing machine generally similar in nature andconstruction to that disclosed in the U. S. Letters Patent to Kronquest 1,752,912, issued April 1,1930.

The filled containers which are to be closed in the closing machine and have air removed "from the head spaces above the product therein by the means forming the subject matter of the Figure3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken 1 on the line 33 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line -4, on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail plan v iew of the body porshown).

:present application, are fed toward the machine by any suitable container feeding mechanism generally designated 9. Such feeding mechanisms are well known in the art, and since an acceptable mechanism of this character is disclosed more or less in detail in the Kronquest patent hereinbefore referred to, further detailed description thereof herein is thought to be unnecessary. i

The feed-in mechanism generally designated 9 deliversthe filled containers 1 onto asupporting table portion l0 between a suitableupstanding guide rail 1 I and'the periphery'of a pocketed container feeding turret I! to which movement is imparted, through suitable gearing l3, and in timedrelation'with the movementof the machine turret Ijby suitable power applyingimeans (not Closing machines of the nature referred to usually include filled container feeding turrets l 2 as above described and also suitable cover feeding means. In this illustration the cover feeding means is generally designated l4 and includes a plurality of supporting and feeding screws l 5 upon which the cover units l6 rest in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and which, upon being rotated in suitable timed relation with the'other mechanisms in the machine through drive connections generally, designated l8, server section taken wardly directed angles.

to deposit the cover units one by one on the reissued December 14, 1926.

In the practical development of the invention there is provided a frame plate or casting l9 which is secured in any approved manner, as by stud bolting 20 or the like, upon the machine frame in position for overlying theturret l2 in p the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. cutout portion 21 for accommodating the position of the cover feeding mechanism generally designated H, see Figure 1.

. Secured in any approved manner beneath and supported by the plate or casting I9, is a'cover supporting and container head space gassing member, see Figures 3,to 9 of the drawings. .The

member includes a body portion 22 which is shown in detail in Figures 5, ,7 and 9 of the drawings and is cored out to form a gasgchamber 23 having an inlet leg portion 24 and an arcu'ate gas directing portion 25 shapedto'overlie a considerable extent of the inner half of the container travel path'as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. Opening downwardly through the bottom wall of the body portion 22 within the arcuate chamber 25, are three parallel rows of apertures 26. It will be'observed by v The member [9 includes a recess or reference to Figures 3 and 9 of the drawings that the'innerrnost row of apertures are bored vertically and the two outermost rows are bored at successively increasing downwardly and out- The" body P rtion 22 includes a beveled lip portion 21 presented toward the in-feeding containers and terminating at its inner edge in an upwardly directed overhanging lip 28,

Com'pletion of the gas chamber 23 is effected by superposing a cover plate 29 upon the body portion 22 and securing the parts 22, 29 in assembled relation by screws passed through apertures 39 in the cover plate 29 and into receiving taps 3| in the body portion 22. The inner edge portion of the cover plate 29 is shaped to engage beneath the overhanging edge 29 of the body portion, and by this means separation of the elements 22 and 29 at their inner-edge portions is prevented.

The members 22 and 29 are equipped with registering clearances or recesses 32 so positioned as tov facilitate engagement of the covers l6 and the containers 1 as they reach the assembly position. The plate member l9 may be provided I with a similar clearance 33.

While being moved about beneath the composite member 22, 29, the filled containers 1 are confined peripherally of the turret l2 by afence extension 34 which terminates a short distance,-

lapproximately one-sixteenth of an inch, from the bottom surface or confining wall of the unit 22, 29, and it will be observed by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the open upper ends of the'containersl are disposed approximately onesixteenth of an inch below said wall. The fence includes a receiving end 35 fiared out toward the container feed-in mechanism 9, as shown in Figure l, and at its delivery end 36 thev fence 7 extends well around to the point at which the associated containers;

loose assembly of the containers and covers is complete.

At its under surface the plate or casting I9 is provided with an arcuate cover clearance or guideway 31 and this element also carries a ledge sector 38 which overlies the inner portions of the travelling cover units l6, see Figure 3. The cover units ii are conveyed over the upper surface of the composite unit 22, 29, and through the plate guideway 31, by pusher fingers 39 one of which projects from the upper surface of the turret l2 at the position of each turret pocket, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings.

Asuitable inert gas is delivered to the chamber 23 lathe composite member 22, 29 through registering ports 40 formed in the cover plate 29 and the plate member 22 and a pipe line 4| leading to a suitable source (not shown).

In operation, the cover units I6 are deposited one by one on the supporting rail l1 and moved by the pusher fingers 39 onto the composite unit 22, 29 and along thesarne in the guideway 31 formed in the member l9. As previously stated, the cover feeding mechanism operates in timed relation with the feeding mechanism 9, and thus, filled containers 1 will be moved' along beneath the composite member 22, 29 with their axes aligned with the axes of the respective and associated cover units I6, and with the open upper portions of the containers spaced but slightly from the lower wall portion of said composite member. Thus the head spaces in the containers above theproduct levels 8 may be said to be partially confined by said-wall portion. It will be understood, however, that the space inter- .vening the containers and the confining wall is sufllcient to enable an eflicient sweeping out of the air pocketed above the product level 8, by the inert gas emanating in jets through the perforations 26.

Thus it will be seen that the composite unit 22, 29 serves the twofold function of confining orpartially confining the head spaces in the containers and of supporting the cover units in spaced relation above and separated from the Throughout the extent ,of the arcuate chamber portion 25 in the composite member 22, 29 the gassing or sweeping out of air from the head spaces of the filled containers continues. As the registered cover units and now gassed containers come into the zone of the recesses 32, 33 the covers and containers are assembled loosely uponthe respective supporting pads 8 of the closing machine, and from thence pass on to the zones of influence of the closing mechanisms (not shown).

As has been previously stated the rows of apertures 26 overlie only the inner half of the path of travel of the filled containers and because of this fact, and by reason of the direction of projection of said apertures, the inert gas is directed into and across the head space and sweeps air therefrom and out through the space intervening the bottom wall of. the unit 22, 29 and the upper ends of the containers, without creatinga turbulen-t condition in the container or in any wise disrupting the registered relation of the respective containers and their associated cover units.

It will be observed by reference to Figures 1, 3 and 5 of the drawingsfthat the gas directing portion 25 of the chamber 23 extends over a considerable portion of thearcuate path over which the filled containers pass on their way to the closing machine, and that a sort of gassing tunnel is formed between the periphery of the container feeding turret l2 and the fence and beneath the lower wall of the composite unit 22, 29. By reason of the provision of this tunnel-like arrangement of parts, and the continuation of the administration of the gas over the considerable extent of arcuate travel of the containers, it is possible to administer the gas at low pressure over a sustained period. The gas thusadministered does not bring about a turbulent, foaming condition in the container borne product, say for example when beer is being packaged, and it has been found in actual practice that a more efficient air displacement can thus be effected. The tunnel arrangement also tends to confine and maintain a heavy gas atmosphere throughout the extent of the tunnel.

gas is directed into the head spaces alone and not against the covers.

6. In apparatus of the character described, means for simultaneously conveying filled, containers and covers therefor with the covers disposed above and aligned with said containers, a supporting and separating member forsupporting-the traveling covers and separating them from the containers, said member comprising a composite body composed of a body plate cored out to form a chamber overlying the path of travel of the containers, a cover plate removably secured to the body plate to complete the chamber, means fordirecting aninert gas into the chamber, and ducts for emitting gas from the chamber into the head spaces of the filled containers for the pur- I tainers and covers therefor in an arcuate path with the covers disposed above and aligned with tainers and serving to separate them from the tainers and covers therefor with the covers disposed above and aligned with said containers, means closely overlying and confining the containers and serving to separate them from the covers traveling thereover, and means for directing an inert gas into and across the head spaces of the filled containers beneath said separating means for the purpose of. sweeping out air therefrom. i

3. In apparatus of the character described, means for simultaneously conveying filled containers and covers therefor in an arcuate path with the covers disposed above and aligned with said containers, means closely overlying and confining the containers and serving to separate them from the covers traveling thereover, and means for directing an inert gas into and outwardly across the head spaces of the filled containers beneath said separating means for the purpose of sweeping out air therefrom.

4. In apparatus of the character described, means for simultaneously conveying filled containers and covers therefor with the covers disposed above and aligned with said containers, a supporting and separating member disposed across the whole diameter and close to the open tops of the containers for supporting the traveling covers and separating them from the containers, and means for directing an inert gas through said member into the head spaces of the filled containers for the purpose of displacing air therefrom.

5. In apparatus of the character described, means for simultaneously conveying filled containers and covers therefor in an arcuate path with the covers disposed above and aligned with said containers, means foridirecting an inert gas into and outwardly across the head spaces for displacing air therefrom, and an arcuate plate closely confining the container head spaces and separating the containers and covers so that the saidcontainers, a supporting and separating member for supporting thejtraveling covers and separating them from the containers, said member comprising a" composite body composed of a body plate cored outto form a chamber overlying the path of travel of the containers, a cover plate removably secured to the body plate to complete the chamber, means for directing an inert gas into the chamber, and ducts for emitting gas from the chamber into-the head spaces of the filled containers for the purpose of displacing air therefrom, said ducts being arranged in arcuate rows over an inner portion only of the path of travel of the containers.

8. In apparatus of the character described, means for simultaneously conveying filled containers and covers therefor in an arcuate path with the covers disposed above and aligned with said containers, a supporting and separating member for supporting the traveling covers and separating them from the containers, said member comprising a composite body composed of a body plate cored out. toform a chamber overlying the path of travel of the containers, a cover plate removably secured to the body plate to complete the chamber, means for directing an inert gas into the chamber, and ducts for emitting gas from \the' chamber into the head spaces of the filled containers for the purpose of displacing air therefrom, said ducts being arranged in arcuate rows over an inner portion only of the path of travel of the containers and each succeeding row of ducts, in the outward direction, being angled outwardly and downwardly to a greater degree than the preceding row.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a

cover supporting and cover and container separating and gassing member comprising a composite body' composed of a body plate cored out to form a chamber, a cover plate removably secured to the body plate to complete the chamber, means for directing gas into the chamber, and

' ducts for emitting gas from the chamber.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a

' increases.

cover supporting and cover and container separating and gassing member comprising a composite body composed of a body platecored out to form a chamber, a cover plate removably secured to the body plate to complete the chamber,

means for directing gas into'the chamber, and

ducts for emittinggas fromthe chamber, said member being arcuate in shape, and said ducts being arranged in arcuate rows with the angle of inclination downwardly-outwardly of said rows ofducts increasing 12. In apparatus of the character described, a

I cover supporting and cover and container sepa- .,chamber being disposed along one edge portion of the member, and said body plate having an edge portion overlying and confining the cover plate at the position of said chamber.

, 13. In apparatus ofthe character described, a

as the diameter; of said rows hollow cover supporting body, means for feeding covers one by one over the upper surface of said body, and means operable in timed relation with the cover feeding means for feeding filled containers along beneath the body and with their open upper ends close to said body and directly beneath individual covers moving over said body, said body having ducts in its lower surface through which gas is directed into the head spaces of said containers. 7

14. In apparatus of the character described, an arcuate hollow cover supporting body, means for feeding covers one by one over the upper surface of said body, and means operable in timed relation with the cover feeding means for feeding filled containers in an arcuate path conforming to and beneath the body and with their open upper ends close to said body and directly beneath individual covers moving over said body, and ducts arranged in arcuate rows over an inner portion only of the path of travel of the containers and through which gas is directed into and outwardly across thecontainer head spaces for displacing air therefrom.

ALFRED L. KRONQUEST. 

